c-erbB-2 status is an independent predictor of survival after first recurrence.
We studied retrospectively the interaction between c-erbB-2 overexpression and the prognosis in 239 invasive breast cancer patients who underwent radical operations between January 1984 and April 1991. The c-erbB-2 protein was overexpressed in 42 (17.6%) of 239 patients. There was no correlation between c-erbB-2 overexpression and age at operation, tumor size, lymph node involvement, or clinical stage. Only an inverse correlation was found between c-erbB-2 overexpression and hormone receptor levels. Patients with c-erbB-2 overexpression had a significantly worse overall survival than those without c-erbB-2 overexpression. In relation to lymph node involvement or estrogen receptor status, a significant difference in overall survival between the c-erbB-2-positive and -negative groups was found in patients with lymph node metastasis or in those with estrogen receptor-negative tumors. Out of 237 patients (two were lost to follow-up), 42 recurred and 25 died of breast cancer. The c-erbB-2-negative patients survived significantly longer after the time of first recurrence than the c-erbB-2-positive patients. In a multivariate analysis using Cox proportional-hazard regression model, c-erbB-2 status and disease-free interval were independent predictors of survival after first recurrence. In conclusion, c-erbB-2 status is an independent prognostic indicator of survival after first recurrence.
Horiguchi
J
J
Second Department of Surgery, Gunma University School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371, Japan.
Iino
Y
Y
Takei
H
H
Maemura
M
M
Takeyoshi
I
I
Yokoe
T
T
Ohwada
S
S
Oyama
T
T
Nakajima
T
T
Morishita
Y
Y
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone